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Diabetes: Protecting Your Feet

Topic Overview

Because you have
diabetes, you will need to be especially careful to
protect your feet from injury.

General precautions

Wear shoes all the time. If you do not want to
wear shoes indoors, wear slippers with hard soles and good support. Keep your
shoes next to your bedside, and slip them on your feet as soon as you get out of
bed. This will help you develop the habit of wearing footwear and will protect
your feet.

Wear socks in bed if your feet are cold at
night.

Apply sunscreen to the tops of your feet when they will be
exposed to the sun.

Wear protective beach or surf shoes when
swimming. Wear shower shoes in public baths and pools to prevent athlete's
foot, plantar warts, and other contagious conditions.

Keep the
walkways in your home clear. Pick up objects that you might trip over. Arrange
the furniture so that you have a clear path through your house, especially a
clear path to the bathroom at night.

Check your shoes

Always check inside your shoes before you put
them on. Look and feel for loose objects, pebbles or dirt, a torn lining, rough
spots, or anything else that could cause discomfort or
injury.

Before putting on your shoes, check the soles of the shoes
for any nails or tacks that may puncture your foot.

Things to avoid

Wearing tight shoes

Wearing shoes
without socks or stockings

Walking barefoot, even
indoors

Using hot water bottles or heating pads on your
feet

Walking on very hot pavement or beach sand while barefoot or
while wearing thin-soled shoes

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.